Air conditioning method and apparatus for passenger cars



2 sheets-Sheet 1 lLflzllllrlri ILILTIIIILTIIILTIILTIIITI L. L.`LEWIS Filed Jah. 12, 1955 AIR CONDITIONING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PASSENGER CARS Nov. 9, 1937.

JNVNTOR. Leo LLewz BY @ily ATTORNEY Nov. 9, 1937. L. L, LEWIS 2,098,396

AIR CONDITIONING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PASSENGER CARS Filed Jan. 12, 1933 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2` a W ,a

INVENTOR. Leo LlLewzS A TTORNEY Patented Nov. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR CONDITIONING METHOD AND Afl-ARA- TUS FOR PASSENGER CARS Leo L. Lewis, 'Plainileld, N. J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Carrier Corporation, Newark, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application January 12, 19353, serial No. 651,287

14 claims. (c1. ca -117) This invention relates to methods of and means for conditioning the atmospheres of railroad cars, and more particularly lto a system in which a central refrigeration or air conditioning device is adapted to serve a plurality of conditioning equipments located in individualA carsv remote from said device.

It .is a well known fact that railroad cars parked in yards are uncomfortably hot inside during thesummer months. This is especially true with reference to the present standard steel car,'and passengers entering said cars, at stations, awaiting the starting -of the train, are extremely` uncomfortable by reason of the high temperature.

-The primary object of my invention is to regulate the temperature of parked carsso that passengers may remain in the car with comfort while awaiting the starting of the train.

Another object of my invention is to provide means, whereby the temperature. of all cars on the ltrain while en route, may be regulated to the desired temperature.

A further object of my invention is to so Aarrangean air conditioning system on an individual car so that it mayA be supplied with a 'conditioning fluid either from` a source within the railroad station or from a source located on vthe train.

, Another object` of my invention isto condition Y freeing the air fromdust, soot,.cinders and'other foreign matter,l controlling its temperature and humidity, and introducing such conditioned air into the car'without objectionable drafts.

For purposes of illustrating my invention, Iv have selected one 'of many 'embodiments'adapted for carrying out m'y invention, but I do not wish to be coniined to the' embodiment shown, in which:l l. v

Fig. 1 is a plan view, in outline, of

bodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a passenger car adapted to cooperate with the master car,

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a railroad train, comprising a locomotive, a master car, and several passenger cars, showing practical adaptation of the invention, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the master car showing a detailed arrangement of the equip what I` shall hereinafter term the master car,

or other suitable media, will be. chilled to a desired degree within the master car' and be distributed to the passengerl cars wherein it may be utilized to cool and condition the air therein. Preferably, the master car is located in the forward part of the train adjacent the locomotive, but under certain conditions, it may be located at any other point. Flnther, my invention contemplates the use of chilled water, or other re,- frigerant or medium, from any source within the railroad station, while the train is parked, the water being delivered to the cars through conduits similar to those used for supplying steam for heating. In fact, the usual car steam lines may be used under summer operating conditions for transmission of chilled water or other conditioning medium.

With reference to the drawings, similar designations referring to similar parts, numeral 5 designates the master car, in which an electric fwith steam from the locomotive of the train.

This generator will supply the electrical energy necessary to drive the pumps,-.fans and other elements of the air conditioning equipment.

A reirigerating machine, generally designated by the numeral 8, is located within the master car. Preferably, the machine 8 comprises a centrifugal compressor 9, although any other type could be utilized, -driven by an electric motor or steam turbine I0. An evaporator' II and.a condenser I2,` cooperate with the compressor to give the desired-refrigerating effect. The re- `frigerant, such as dichloromethane, is compressed .by compressor 9 and discharged within condenser I2. Water, circulating in pipes within the condenser, abstracts heat from and thereby causes condensation of the refrigerant. The liqe uid refrigerant is then delivered `to theevaporator II wherein it is vaporized to cool a medium such as water' or brine flowing through pipes located within the evaporator. The vaporousA refrigerant is withdrawn from the evaporator by compressor 9 and the cycle repeated. The heated water, after passing through the -condenser I2, is discharged through pipe I3 and spray heads I4 (Fig. 4) into a. cooling tower I5 in the form of a nemist orspray. Cooling tower I5 comprises a casing I6 having an air inlet I 1.a motor driven i'an I8 and an air discharge I9. The fan -Il draws air from outside I the master car through inlet I1, through the 5 5 sprays and discharges the air through outlet I9 to the atmosphere. In passing through the sprays, the air absorbs a portion of the water,

and, as is well understood, cools the remaining portion to a temperature approximating the wet bulb temperature of the incoming air. The cooled wateris Withdrawn from the tower and discharged by pump 20 through condenser I2 for the purpose of causing refrigerant to condense as her'einbefore explained. To replace the con-.5- denser Water lost through evaporation in the,

cooling tower, a reserve supply is maintained in a tank 2I which, for convenience, may be located below the oor of the car. vPipe 22, or valve 23, provide means whereby this supply may be drawn upon by pump 20 when necessary. In the same manner, thisfmake-up water may be drawn from the tender.

'I'he chilled water, or brine, is taken from the evaporator II by pump 24 and delivered through a suitably insulated pipe V25 extending the length of the train, suitable flexible couplings, similar to the present steam and air connections, being provided between the various cars of the train.

Taps or supplemental conduits lead from this cooling medium conveyor line 25 to coolers 25 on each car 21 in the train. A suitable return line 28 is provided for returning the cooling medium from the various-coolers 26, to the evaporator I I, in which the water may be rechilled for reuse.

Referring to Fig. 2, each car 21 is provided with a cooler 26, located within a chamber 2 9. A duct 30, having air inlets 3| communicating with the passenger space, connects at its opposite ends 32 with air inlet chamber 33. Ventilators 34 provide means whereby air from outdoors may be admitted to duct 30 for mixture with air from the passenger space prior to cooling by coils 26. Filters 35 of any desired type, are mounted-in the duct ends 32 for removing all foreign matter from air passing therethrough. Centrifugal fans 36 are adapted to draw air through the iilter and through openings 3l, through the coolers and discharge the air through ducts 31 into the passenger space. This air conditioning, filtering land circulating mechanism in each car may be operated and controlled in accordance with the disclosure in my copending It is obvious that instead of using a centrifugal ,or reciprocating compressor, -a steam ejector or jet pump apparatus may be provided as a source of supply for furnishing refrigerated cooling medium to one or a series of cars. Furthermore, if

desired, as for .short runs, a source of refrigerted iiuid may be provided in a tank on the tender or otherwise, from which the iluid cooling medium may be distributed for use in the air conditioningapparatuson individual cars. v

Within the scope of my invention, as set forth in the appended claims, the arrangement, construction and operationl of the means on the ,75,- master car or eqiupmentfexternally of and auxiliary to the passenger car or cars to be cooled may be varied to wide .degrees from the present disclosure; also, changes in the construction, arrangement and operation of the parts throughout may be resorted to within the scope of such claims without departing from the spiritlor sacricing any of the advantages of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. The method of conditioning airfor a passenger car train `which consists in chilling a cooling fluid in a master car and conducting said uid by means of conduits from the master car to the passenger cars in the train, shunting the uid from said conduits to a cooler in each passenger car in the train, and drawing the air to be cooled over said cooler and discharging said cooled air into the car.

`2. The method of treating air for a passenger car train which consists in chilling water, conducting said water through a. conduit to the several cars in the train, `shunting said water from said conduit into 'each car in the train, passing said water through a cooler in the car, drawing outside air into each car, vfiltering said outside air and passing it over said cooler, and then introducing the cooled air into the said car.

3. In combination in a railroad. passenger train, a master car, and a plurality of passenger cars, a water chilling equipment in said master car, main conduits connecting said equipment .with the passenger cars, to carry the chilled water to the passenger cars, a duct in each of the pas-l senger cars to conduct outside air into the passenger cars, an air filter in said duct, a cooler in said duct, a supplemental conduit leading from the main conduits into said duct to carry the Water to said coolers and air ducts inthe car,

and means for driving the cooled air into the interior of the car.l

4. In combination, in an air cooling device for passenger cars, a water chilling equipment, a conduit for the chilled Water leading from said equipment, and a supplemental conduit leading from said conduit into a car, a cooler in the car connected with said supplemental conduit, means to pass air over said cooler, and discharge the air from the said .cooler into the car.

5. In combination, in a passenger train, a master car, and passenger cars, a water chilling equipment in the master car, main pipes connecting said equipment with the passenger cars, to conduct the chilled Water thereto, a cooler in each passenger oar, a pipe connecting the cooler to said main pipes, air ducts leading to said cooler, ducts from said cooler to convey the cooled air from the cooler into the car, and means to return the water to the master car.

6.v In combination, in a passenger train, a master car, and passenger cars, a water chilling equipment in the master car, main pipes connecting the said equipment with the passenger cars to conduct chilled water thereto, a cooler in each passenger car, a connection between the said main lpipe to conduct the chilled water to said cooler, air ducts leading from the exterior of the passenger car to said cooler, and ducts to distribute the air from said cooler into the car.

7. In combination, in a passenger train, a

master car, and passenger cars, a water chilling equipment on said master car, main pipes connecting said equipment with the passenger cars,

to conduct the chilled water thereto, a cooler in each passenger car, a connection between said main pipe and cooler to conduct the chilled water to said cooler, airducts leading from the exterior and interior of the passenger car to said cooler, and ducts to distribute the cooled air from said cooler into the car.

8. In combination, in a passenger train, a master car, and passenger cars, a water chilling equipmentl on said master car, main pipes connecting said equipment with the passenger cars, to conduct the chilled water thereto,' a cooler in each passenger car, a connection between said main pipe and cooler to conduct the chilled water to said cooler, air ducts leading from the exterior and interior. of the passenger car to said cooler, and ducts to distribute the cooled air from said cooler into the car and a return water pipe from the passenger cars to the chilling equipment in the master car.

9. In combination, in a passenger train, a master car, and passenger cars, a water chilling equipment on said master car, main pipes connecting said equipment with the passenger cars,`

to conduct the chilled water thereto, a cooler in each passenger car, a connection between said main pipe and cooler to conduct the chilled water to said cooler, airducts leading from the exterior and interior of the passenger car to said cooler, and ducts to distribute the cooled air from said cooler into the car and an air filter to free the air from foreign matter before it passes over the cooler. I

10. In combination, in a passenger train, a master car, and passenger cars, a water chilling equipment onv said master car, main pipes connecting said equipment with the passenger cars, to conduct the chilled water thereto, a cooler in each passenger car, a connection between said main pipe and cooler to conduct the chilled water to said cooler, air ducts leading from the exterior and interiorv of the passenger car to said cooler, and ducts to distribute the cooled air from said lcooler into the car, and a return water pipe from the passenger cars to the chilling equipment in the master car, and an airglter to free the air from foreign matter before it passes over said cooler.

cooler therein, bringing air into contact with said cooler in said chamber and thereby cooling the same, and discharging the cooled air from said chamber into the passenger compartment of the car.

12. The method of conditioning the air within a railroad car forming part of a train whichy consists in conditioning a. iluid' in a master car and conducting said fluid by means of conduits from the master car to said car to be conditioned, shunting the iiuid from said conduits to an air conditioning apparatus in said car, and circulating air to be conditioned through said apparatus and then discharging said air into the car.

13. In combination, in an air conditioning system for railway cars, a uid conditioning equipment located in a master car, a conduit for the fluid leading from said equipment, and a supplemental conduit leading from said conduit into a railway car to be conditioned, an air conditioning apparatus in said railway car connected with said supplemental conduit, means to pass air through said air conditioning apparatus vand discharge.

theair from said air conditioning apparatus into said railway car.

14. The method of conditioning the air within a railroad car forming part of a train which consists in conditioning iluid at a central point i adapted to serve one or more cars in such train and conducting said fluid by means of conduits from the central point to a car to be conditioned, shunting the fluid from said conduits to an air conditioning apparatus in said car and circulating air to be conditioned through said apparatus and then discharging said air into said car.

i LEO L. LEWIS. 

